Physicochemical Properties Of Starch From Sago (Metroxylon Sagu) Palm Grown In Mineral Soil At Different Growth Stages

A study was carried out to determine the physico-chemical properties of sago starch from sago palm grown in mineral soil at different growth stages. Four stages of sago palm, namely, Plawei (P), Bubul (B), Angau Muda (AM) and Angau Tua (AT) were studied. Sago starch granules were observed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) while the x-ray diffraction patterns were examined to study the starch crystallinity. The highest starch content was found at Plawei stage (94.2%) and Angau Muda stage (97.9%), respectively. The amylose content varied between 29.4 to 31.2% for each growth stages. The highest swelling power was found at the earliest growth stages (P) late growth stages (AT) which are 13.3 g/g and 13.2 g/g, respectively. Granule size distributions were similar as the palm grows to the later growth stages, where highest mean diameter of sago starches granules was found at AM. Variation of starch, amylose and proximate content was observed for starches derived from sago palm different growth stages were insignificant.